League for Innovation in the Community College January 2019 | Page 10

difficult for some in that those with potential for success took and advancement. Success does not even pertain to grades precedence in college behaviors. Success covered a large or learning, but rather to a form of material capital, which field of meaning, from the completion of a program (however promises economic returns to individuals and political gains for long) and a certificate to the attainment of an associate’s or legislators. In this sense, the community college can be viewed baccalaureate degree, as well as transfer to another higher as a pathway for the acquisition of private goods: a credential education institution. Success did not cover those students that can be used for a job or a doorway to a university for a who interacted with a community college for an English degree which leads to economic prosperity over a lifetime language course to be able to function in their community or (e.g., the anticipated $1 million-$1.5 million). In this vein, to talk to their children’s school teachers; it did not cover those success violates the democratic principles of the community students who began a course of study but landed a full-time college, and emphasizes winners and losers—those who have job and left college; and it did not refer to those students who succeeded and those who have not. learned a skill, such as arithmetic or writing, but were lifelong special needs students who would not move on to another Capabilities Approach: The Development of Talent level. Certainly, success did not refer to the psychosocial development of students who might be undergoing personal Yet, there are other ways to understand equality of outcomes. trauma or stress and who achieved some sort of peace One of these is the Capabilities Approach, developed initially amongst the faculty and students of a community college. by Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen and furthered in thought by Success was and continues to be a method of accounting: philosopher Martha Nussbaum, among others. In brief, the the measurement of student outcomes based upon a Capabilities Approach, when applied to institutions such as predetermined list of acceptable ends, such as credentials community colleges, points to the outcomes for students Achieving the Dream leads America’s largest network of community colleges working to accelerate and advance student success. JOIN THE MOVEMENT! Connect with us! www.achievingthedream.org | @achievethedream 10 League for Innovation in the Community College Innovatus